Opinion

LETTERS: Export vital to Inland Empire

Trending

The Press Enterprise has been asking for feedback, and that is welcome. However, it would also be welcome if the paper addressed critical issues to us in the Inland Empire in ways that resonate with our realities. A case in point: the partisan and biased opinion piece written by a staffer of the Heritage Foundation, Stephen Moore, in last Sunday’s paper calling the Export Import Bank “robbers” [Export-Import Bank robbery, Opinion, Aug. 17]. Moore attributes the legislative support in purely political terms: They want corporate donors. Well, the truth is, he is the political hack, not them.

I only wish that P-E staff had attended a presentation at Ontario City Hall a few days earlier.

It would have provided an equal opportunity to counter Moore’s politically motivated position. A number of success stories were articulated at the Ontario meeting, including that of an Inland Empire company, Webber EMI, that had been able to secure millions of dollars in exports through the guarantees of payments made through the Export-Import Bank, all of which provides an economic impact on those of us here in the Inland Empire. Webber EMI’s story was repeated by other exporters attending the meeting, giving hope to others looking to export.

If the Press-Enterprise really wants to be relevant to us here in the Inland Empire, perhaps a start would be to reflect unbiased news and balanced opinions in its publications.

Bud Weisbart

Fontana

Editor’s note: Stephen Moore is staff opinion columist with Freedom Communications. His views are his own.

More mental health resources needed

As a long-time sufferer of chronic depression, I am appalled by the lack of resources Riverside has to offer the mentally ill. Recently, I began to attend free support group meetings for those suffering from depression and/or bipolar disorder. At these meetings, I learned that not only was I not alone in my suffering, but that far more were in dire need of help. Many of those suffering are seniors and the unemployed, two groups that are extremely vulnerable.

These people are often dependent on government resources such as Medicaid and Medi-Cal and rely on housing from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. For most of us, it is difficult to find doctors and we have to wait months for appointments (if we are fortunate enough to obtain one) and often cannot afford necessary medications.

Because of the stigma associated with mental illness, I believe some in the city are unaware of the severity of the situation.

It is my hope that by attending support groups, city leaders can learn more about the struggles facing their residents with mental illness so they can advocate for more resources for those who need them most.

Jennifer Hernandez

Rialto

WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR:
Letters to the Editor: E-mail to letters@pe.com.
Please provide your name, city and telephone number (telephone numbers will not be published).
Letters of about 200 words will be given preference. Letters will be edited for length, grammar and clarity.

Join the conversation

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to allow Freedom Communications, Inc. the right to republish your name and comment in additional Freedom publications without any notification or payment.